Heads or Tails

Assult on Bernloch

Battle

Lord Smogg glanced back at Grenzstadt. The city been forced into submission and neither living nor dead questioned the commands of Lord Smogg. But it was only the beginning.Bernloch was a short travel along the mountains, and it held a sizable garden of morr. It was time to bolster the ranks.Smogg adjusted his hat and considered the Dark Elf invasion. It was a blessing from the dark powers, as it allowed him to progress his plans with little resistance. But timing would be critical. A victorious Empire army or a victorious dark elf invasion would prove a considerable.. yes.. timing was critical.“Master!” a scawny looking survivor from Grenzstadt groveled before Lord Smogg, hoping to have his life spared still. “It seems Bernloch is not entirely undefended. A young commander has rallied forces from Sigmaringen and Kaunitz. We should pull back. I am not at warrior at all”. Lord Smogg glanced coldly at him from under the brim of his wide hat. With a quick motion, smogg’s dagger was planted in the mans heart, yet he was still standing. Waiting for orders. “Now you are” Smogg said.With that the undead army advanced upon the town of Bernloch.

Days later towards west, a gang of bandits check out their loot from an ambushed 4 seasons coaching company. It is scarce with valuables, but they did snoop through the mail bag. A letter in particular gives them the chills:

Dear Sister Maya,
The fee for a ride was beyond my budget, but I hope this letter reach you in my stead. It may well be the last words from me.
Last night, I was awoken by screams as living dead surged though the streets. I was with a small group who managed to escape Bernloch. While fleeing, we could hear chanting from the Bernloch Garden of Moor, and it seemed the dead were up from their graves!
We regreouped with the Arch Lector west of the city, he had already received reinforcements from nearby towns. Including the old steamtank from Sigmaringen. I never thought I would see it running again!. The force also counted The Arch Lectors personal retinue of greatswords and the Halbadiers from Kaunitz along with two cannons and a volley gun. Two visiting wizards had offered their support as well. One of the collage of light and one of the collage of life. Brothers I think.
It was disheartening to see my old town of Bernloch occupied by the living dead. A large number of skeletons had taken the city and on the graveyard, their forces were lead by the now infamous Lord Smogg. Next to him and old plague cart. Wolves also provled the streets, and beyond the graveyard an unnerving Black Coach. The forces were spearheaded by 50 skeletons with a horrible banshee, two vampires and their standard. Flying horrors all around and ghostly beings roaming the woods.
I had offered my help with the Volley gun based on my previous work, and was in a good position to see everything. The Bright Wizard had joining the Kaunitz Halbardiers and a beam of light did stream from his fingers, completly destroying a unit of Hexwraiths!
Lord Smogg commanded his forces forward. I could see ghostly beings approaching in the middle directly towards me. Above them fel bats and horrible vargheists!
To my right the large unit of 50 skeletons, no wait, more had joined them. More like 60 now, marched towards the Kaunitz Halbardiers.
To my left I could hear the steam tank moving forward. One of our cannons manage to kill wound a vargheist!
I started up the volley gun. The crew were skilled and we sprayed a hail of bullets at the Vargheists that were diving down towards us. Sigmars Blessing! We killed one of the horrors!
But they were soon upon us. We fought all we could, but my companions were ripped apart. I was badly wounded, and hid near the remains of the volley gun as the vargeists continued forward in search of more enemies.
A bat had decended on the cannon crew, and I could see the steam tank comming to a halt as ghosts were drifting in and out the metal plates. Screams could be heard from within.
On my right the Halbardiers charged the skeletons. Alas, the skeletons seemed crackling with unholy powers, their speed and vigour increased. The Halbardiers must have lost their nerve, for the fought in a panicked state forgetting all their prior training. They were cut down, and the light wizard killed as well.
With the cannon overrun and the right flank lost, the greatswords seeked to wheel around the steam tank on the left flank. A last unit of handgunners seeked to defend the right flank, but were soon overwhelmed by the massive undead unit and screams from a banshee. The varheists flew towards the second cannon on the left flank.
My hope was failing as the Vargheists tore aprart the second cannon crew and continued into the second unit of handgunners. Meanwhile the greatswords did charge the spirit, freeing the steem tank from the ethereal trap, but in turn walking into a greater trap.
It was hard to watch as the Greatswords charged and anihilated a small unit of skeletons, only to be charged by 60 skeletons in the front, 50 zombies in the back, a spirit host and a black coach in the flank.
At this point I knew all was lost my sister. I fled all I could. I think I ran throughout all the night. I will try to get home, but should I fail, know that you I love you.
Your Brother
Bentley Farling